Shoe innersole



Dec. 7,1943. L AYERS 2,336,155

SHOE INNERSOLE Filed April 4, 1941 Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCg.

SHOE INNERSOLE Fred L. Ayers, Watertown, Mass.

Application April 4, 1941, Serial No. 386,914

2 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe innersoles, more particularly of the type wherein a layer of canvas is secured to the lower face of a thin top layer or sole blank, the outer margins of the canvas being unsecured so that inseam fasteners can be passed through the canvas layer inwardly of the periphery of the top layer or blank. In order to define the outer limit of the secured portion of this layer, the parts may be stitched together or otherwise secured through and through by fastenings at the desired distance inwardly of their margins. While this method is satisfactory in so far as defining a free margin of the reinforcing fabric for receiving the inseam fastenings is concerned, it has the disadvantage that the stitches or other fastenings by which the canvas is secured to the upper layer or blank are exposed on the top face of the inner-- sole, and to avoid this in the finished shoe the innersole is overlaid with a sock lining which is inserted inthe shoe after the shoe has been made, this being a troublesome and somewhat expensive operation.

The resent invention has for an object, therefore, to provide an innersole presenting a fabric portion around the margin of its lower face either around the forepart, the forepart and shank or entirely around the innersole, depending upon how it is desired to finish the heel and shank portions of l the shoe, this fabric portion being secured inwardly of the margin of the body of the innersole but without the use of stitching or other fastenings showing on the upper face of the innersole.

The invention may be carried out in accordance with one method by avoiding the use of stitches or other fastening elements and making use of other means for defining the inner limit of the unsecured margin of the fabric.

In accordance with other methods, stitching or other fastening elements may be employed, but in such a manner that such stitching or elements are covered over and concealed by another or other portions of the innersole.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view partly broken away showing one form of innersole embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail section of two elements of the same partly separated to more clearly show the construction.

Figure 3 is a detail section to a larger scale than Figure 1 through one side portion of the innersole but with the marginal lip turned downwardly.

Figure 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig-' ure 3 but showing a modification.

Figure 5 is'a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the margin turned as in Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 3 and '5,but showing further modifications.

Figure 8 is a plan view of an innersole layer which may be used in the construction of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and 5 and 7 if desired.

Figure 9 is a cross section through an innersole member preparatory to securing the fabric reinforcement thereto.

Figure 10 is a similar View but showing the innersole member and the fabric reinforcing member adjacent to each other-and prepared for securement together. 1

Figure 11 is a lateral section through the completed innersole employing the parts shown in Figure 10.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are fragmentary views similar to Figures 4 and 6 but illustrating further modifications.

Referring first to the construction shown in- Figures 1, 2 and 3, at is indicated a sole blank which may be of relatively thin material and unprovided with any marginal lips or ribs. To the lower face of this blank I is secured a fabric reinforce comprising superposed fabric layers. 2 and 3. The fabric layer 3, at least around. the forepart of the innersole, is extended outwardly beyond the margin of the blank, but it may also-be so extended at the shank or even around the heel as well if desired, this depending upon the mannerof lasting which it is desired to use in the shank or heel or both. These layers 2 and 3am secured together somewhat inwardly of the margin of the layer 2, which is the same size as the blank I, by a line of fasten-, ings such as stitching 4. t t

Preferably the upper layer 2 is provided with a cement coating 5 on its ,upper face, this being ifdesired of the same nature as that on the usual canvas reinforcement for Gem innersoles. The lower layer 3 may be of the same material, but preferably its cement coated face is downwardly presented as shown at 6. The two fabric, layers thus secured together are cemented by the cement layer 5 to the lower face of the blank I. This provides a construction wherein no stitching or other fastenings appear on the top face of theinnersole so that after in: sertionin a shoe no sock lining need be placed in position. The placing of such a sock lining;

is positioned inwardly of the outer margin of a the blank I so that the outer margin 1 of the fabric layer 3 is free to be turned downwardly about the stitching and serve as a rib to receive inseam stitching (not shown), after which this portion 1 may be folded inwardly with its adhesive coated face in, contact with the adhesive coated lower face of the layer 3 inwardly of the fastenings 4 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. This provides a very secure anchorage fo the inseam stitches and yet produces an innersole face substantially flat from side to side, since when the portion 1 is pressed against the lower face of the fabric layerinwardly of the line of fastenings 4, it presents no substantial thickness. It does, however, leave exposed a face of fabric uncoated bythe cement and in condition to receive a permanentcement such as well known pyroxylin cement by which an outer'sole may be secured directly thereto. Suchan arrangement is not claimed herein, but forms subject matter of a co-pending application.

In place of employing a lower layer extending entirely across the width of the innersole, a marginal fabric portion Ill. as shownin Figures 4 and 5, may be employed. This may be secured to an upper reinforcing fabric layer M as by one or more lines of stitching as at I I. When the margin 12 of this layer ID is turned downwardly about the outermost line of stitching II, it may act as an inseamstitch-receiving rib just as the margin 1 of Figure 3 is used and after the stitching is laid, this margin-I2, which is preferably wider than the portion M secured to the layer 2a, may be brought down into contact therewith overlying the stitching or other fasteners II and the inner edge Of, the part 54 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

In Figure 6 a further modification is shown in which the blank la is slit inwardly around its margin, at least around the forepart, and if desired through the shank portion or both the shank and heel, as shown at l5, thus to form upper and lower lips i6 and H. A fabric reinforcing layer I8, preferably with its cement coated face downwardly turned, is secured to the lip 11 only, as b the line of stitching or other fasteners at l9, so that its portion outwardly of the fasteners l9 may be bent downwardly to form a stitching rib and thereafter folded inwardly as has been previously described with reference to the portions 1 and i2 shown in Figures 3 and 5. In order to get at the parts for inserting the stitches or fasteners l9, the upper lip 15 may be temporarily turned up as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6.

In Figure 7 a further modification is shown in wh ch the insole blank comprises a pair of fabric layers 20, and 2!. The layer 2| only, is secured to the bottom reinforcing fabric layer 22 as by the line of stitches or other fasteners at 23. and the upper layer 2|! has its margin which extends beyond the margin of the layer 2| folded around the margin of the layer 2| and secured as by cement to the lower face of this layer outwardly of the margin 24 of the bottom layer 22 which has been turned downwardly outwardly of the line of fasteners 23 to form the stitching lip. This stitching lip may be folded back into the dotted line position and secured to the lower face of the innersole after the stitches or other fasteners have been placed.

In all the constructions heretofore described, it will be noted that the fabric reinforcing layer, the margin of which forms the inseam receiving lip, is secured to the remainder of the innersole by fastenings such as stitches, but that in no instance do these fastenings or stitches extend through the top face of the innersole where they will be visible in the completed shoe should no sock lining be applied to the top face of the innersole.

Where a double fabric layer is employed, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and '7, the inner of these layers may be cut out as shown at 25 in Fig'ure'8 so as to present merely a marginal portion 26. This tends to make the construction more flexible. A continuous layer will usually be found preferable where only one layer is used.

In Figures 9, l0 and 11 a further modification is shown in which no fastenings are used to se cure the reinforcing fabric layer to the remainder of the inner sole. The bond between this fabric layer and the remainder of the innersole is by cement only, but means are provided to insure a clean line of demarcation where the adhesive which secures these parts together terminates so that the outer margin of the reinforcing layer may be turned away from the remainder of the innersole to form a stitch-receiving rib as'in theconstructions heretofore described. To this end the blank lb, which may be of leather or other "suitable material, is first coated around its-margin on its lower face where the reinforcing} layer is to extend with a cement insulator composition as at 3%. By cement insulator is meant some material with which the cement will not bond or at least will not strongly bond. There are many well known materials for this purpose such as compositions containing oil or wax or wax alone. This coating 3b is applied in a relatively narrow band having a clean cut inner edge so as to define a zone around the margin of the blank where cement will not adhere. The lower face of this blank is then coated with the adhesive as shown at 3! in Figure 10, the margins being thus free from the cement and the fabric reinforcement is secured to the blank lb by means of this cement. If a fabric cement coated on one face is to be employed, the uncemented face of the fabric coating is, preferably, arranged to face the blank lb. The parts are then brought together as shown in Figure 11 and the cement bond between the reinforcing fabric and the blank is allowed to set or harden. That-portion of the margin of the reinforcing layer 32 which contacts with the insulator coating 30 is then left free so that it can be brought downwardly'as shown at 33 in F gure 11 to form the inseam receiving riband may thereafter be turnedinwardly and cemented to the lower face of the layer 32 inwardly of the inseam fasteners.

In Figures 12, 13 and 14 other constructions are illustrated in which no stitches or other fastenersare used to secure the fabric re nforcement to the sole blank. In these constructions the lower margin of the blank M, at least about the forepart, is cutaway as by a marginal rabbet to form an abrupt marginal outwardly facing shoulder spaced inwardly from its periphery as shown at 4|, defining the outward marginal limit of the cement securement of the reinforcing layer 42 which when fiat, projects outwardly of the shoulder 4|. The cut face of the blank outwardly of the shoulder 4| may be parallel to the adjacent face of the blank as shown in Figure 12, or upwardly or downwardly inclined as shown in Figure 13 or 14, respectively, and may be coated with a cement insulator, if desired. Due to the thinness of the margin, however, it will usually be found desirable to treat it with some stiffening agent. Such agents are well known in the art and commonly contain shellac or other gums or resins. Such a shoulder 4| could also be employed in'connection with other means than cement for securing the reinforcing fabric to the sole blank.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it will be noted that in each of these the reinforcing fabric is unsecured about the margin of the remainder of the innersole so that the inseam stitching or other fastening may be positioned inwardly of the innersole margin, but in no case is there any fastening means between the reinforcing fabric layer and the remainder of the innersole visible on the top face of the innersole. Thus there is no occasion for employing a sock lining in the completed shoe.

It will be also understood that various other changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An innersole including a blank provided with a marginal rabbet on one side face forming an outwardly presented abrupt shoulder extending back from said one side face, and a reinforcing layer secured to said face entirely by cement and only as far outwardly as said shoulder and when in fiat condition projecting outwardly of said shoulder.

2. An innersole including a blank provided with a marginal rabbet on one side face forming an outwardly presented abrupt shoulder extending back from said one side face, and a reinforcing layer secured to said face entirely by cement and only as far outwardly as said shoulder and when in fiat condition projecting outwardly of said shoulder, the base face of said rabbet being inclined downwardly and outwardly to the face of the blank inwardly of said shoulder.

FRED L. AYERS. 

